Labor News

Reprinted from The San Francisco Chronicle by Raymond Hogler on February 21, 2017.

“Andrew Puzder’s brief foray into government ended last week when he withdrew his nomination as Donald Trump’s secretary of labor,” writes Raymond Hogler in The San Francisco Chronicle. “Just a day later, the administration named its new nominee for the job, Alexander Acosta, dean of the law school at Florida International University.

“Put simply, Acosta is a qualified nominee for the position. Puzder was anything but. Why Puzder was ever put forward for an office dedicated to the well-being of American workers – and the agency most responsible for the interests of the white, middle-aged voters making up Trump’s electoral base – requires some explanation. …

“From the outset, Labor’s mission was to:

“’foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.’ …